When a professional wedding photographer gets engaged!

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I'm a professional photographer with iPhone only images of us from the start - insert eye roll here. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The ring + The proposal

2017 was a year for the books!  I'm officially a finance' to the most amazing guy, a wonderful father of two loving and adorable kids, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. 

The Ring

I’ll begin this love story with the proposal. I knew Nick had a ring. Before my oldest sister passed away (November 1991), she put some money aside for my little sister and I.  My dad and mom decided to use that money to purchase a diamond for each of us; something we’d have from our sister that would last a lifetime.  Over the years, I asked my mom for that diamond multiple times, but the answer was always, “No, you're not responsible enough...yet." 

I knew I wanted a simple ring - but I had a few other requests - in order of importance, of course. 

  1. Gold

  2. Solitaire

  3. Low profile - I'm rough on my hands

  4. Thin band

  5. Half bezel

We tried on a few different settings at Goldsmith Silversmith in downtown Omaha, they weren't quite what I had in mind.  Dani was helpful and had a sense of calm about her.  She pulled together a few pieces, showed me a few things in a magazine, and there we were.  Twenty minutes after walking into the store we were ordering the pieces to have a custom engagement ring made.  After the pieces arrived, we were able to come back to the store and see the pieces together, before the jeweler actually started work on the ring.  

Thinking about all the decisions that come with wedding planning - the ring was easy. I knew what I wanted and Dani was able to articulate my vision and pull together my list and create a perfect engagement ring for us!  I'm glad my mom didn't cave because it's even more meaningful today. 

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Since I knew Nick had the ring, I kept asking him when he was planning to pop the question. We specifically talked about him not asking me to marry him on Christmas, because we wanted that time together to be all about the kids. Shortly before Christmas, Nick showed the kids the ring, and they formed a plan of their own, mostly Alyssa.  She was set on a Christmas engagement, at Grandma's, in front of everyone! 

The Proposal Moment

As our Christmas celebration was winding down, the guys were warming and loading the cars, as we were saying our goodbyes. Just when I thought we were ready to go, Nick came back inside and said he found one more gift in the car.  I knew immediately.  As Nick was talking, my photographer brain kicked in and I thought, “Throw your phone to Brandy, she's got the best angle to capture this.” 

I  looked around at a tear-filled room and in those few seconds decided to simply live in the moment and hang on to Nick's every word.  I couldn't remember if I said yes, or if he put the ring on my finger or if I took the ring out of the box.  

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When my future mother-in-law realized what was happening, she quickly grabbed her phone and took a few pictures, everyone was just as shocked as I was. As a photographer, it's hard to sit back and enjoy the moments as they happen.  I get stuck in my own head - but the reality is, the best camera is the one that's in your hand at the time.  My wedding photographer tip to all you soon to be engaged couples, enjoy the moment and the people surrounding you.